For the latest issue of the ELCA newsletter, we spoke with the Martin Nosko from the Slovak Academy of Sciences about the growing importance of lightweighting in Slovakia. We discussed its potential across key sectors like automotive and aviation, the Academy’s role in shaping research and policy, the goals of the new Interreg Europe project “Lightweight EU,” and how European collaboration can help overcome national challenges to boost innovation and competitiveness.

What is the current positioning of lightweighting in Slovakia? What are the most relevant industries in that field?

While showing potential, lightweighting in Slovakia has not yet emerged as a significant focus within the country’s national innovation strategies. The absence of targeted policies, sector-specific funding, and a cohesive network of stakeholders continues to hinder its wider development. As a result, lightweighting has evolved organically as a research field, receiving no direct support and being limited to a few institutions within the country. Nonetheless, interest in lightweighting is evident, with approximately 10% of R&D projects in Technical Sciences addressing this topic. This indicates a foundational level of expertise and research activity that holds significant potential for expansion, particularly in the automotive industry. Slovakia, as the EU leader in direct automotive employment at 15.5%, is well-positioned to capitalise on this opportunity. Beyond the automotive sector, the aviation industry (notably in the manufacturing of small aircraft across several Slovak companies), as well as the construction and energy sectors, should also be considered for future development and integration of lightweighting initiatives. 

 

What kind of work does the Academy do in the lightweighting field?

Within the Academy, we are working to shape research policy in the field of lightweighting, focusing on mobility, energy, and construction sectors. Our efforts primarily involve the development of new materials and a more comprehensive approach to utilizing existing materials, such as leveraging the combination of mechanical and physical properties—for instance, efficient heat dissipation achieved through the design of structural components.

In 2023, we joined the European Lightweighting Network and have actively participated as a partner in Eureka project calls during this period. Currently, we are advocating for a comprehensive study on the economic benefits of lightweighting in Slovakia, inspired by examples from countries such as Sweden, Austria, and Germany. Our objective is to demonstrate to policymakers that lightweighting represents a significant segment of the industry and to emphasise the importance of strengthening this area for the country’s long-term development.

 

Can you tell us something about the recently approved Interreg Europe project “Lightweight EU”? What is the aim of the project and what is going to be the role of the Academy?

Lightweight EU aims to address disparities, such as the uneven recognition and prioritisation of lightweighting across different regions in Europe, by sharing best practices to strengthen national and regional policies. The project brings together public bodies, innovation agencies, research institutes, and business support organisations to ensure a holistic approach to policy improvements to enhance industry competitiveness and drive sustainability efforts in integrated lightweighting policies In Slovakia, insights gained from Lightweight EU could play a crucial role in formulating dedicated policies, closing funding gaps, and accelerating the adoption of lightweighting technologies to drive environmental, industrial, and economic advancements. The Academy’s role is to collaborate with stronger European partners in the field, learning from their expertise and working in coordination with the ministry to advocate for a coherent science policy on lightweighting—whether as a standalone field or as a cross-cutting theme across key industry sectors.

 

You are an active member of the European Lightweighting Network (ELN). How do you think the network will impact the role of lightweighting in Slovakia?

Slovakia lacks coherent research policies in specific fields, with research primarily driven by a bottom-up approach. This results in a low proportion of targeted, applicable research and insufficient translation of innovative ideas into practice, limiting the creation of higher value-added jobs in the industry.

Slovakia’s participation in the European Lightweighting Network (ELN) can serve as a pilot “case study”, enabling the country to learn from leading players in the field. These frontrunners demonstrate effective approaches to investing directly in high-value-added research, producing market-ready outputs that enhance competitiveness and create new jobs in predefined areas.

Given Slovakia’s economic focus on the mobility sector, lightweighting emerges as a high-impact technology with the potential to strengthen our position through innovation, improve competitiveness, and unlock opportunities for economic growth across key sectors.

What are the main challenges that Slovakia might face for embracing lightweighting innovation? How do you think they could be solved?

One of the main challenges we may face in introducing innovations in lightweighting is Slovakia’s limited experience in developing and implementing scientific concepts across specific research fields, coupled with a lack of confidence in executing such processes. Of course, this issue is further aggravated by an untargeted science and research support system, which shifts with each government change. In my view, this represents the most significant challenge for us.

However, Slovakia’s membership in the European Lightweighting Network (ELN), the successful fulfillment of Interreg project objectives, and the demonstration of several achievements in the field can play a pivotal role in addressing this barrier. These initiatives can help establish a transparent and stable system of science funding in Slovakia, particularly in research areas like lightweighting.

By removing these obstacles, Slovakia can fully harness lightweighting’s potential to modernise its industry, enhance competitiveness, and foster sustainable growth.

 

Many thanks to Martin Nosko  Slovak Academy of Sciences for his  contributions and insights, take a look at their official page here. 

 

View issue 6 of our newsletter that features this interview plus more!

 

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